Capital Nature

Northern Virginia Bird Club Walk
2026-04-01 08:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Long Branch Nature Center & Park, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for informal walks through Glencarlyn Park in search of resident and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welcome. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. Adults.

The Butterfly Experience
2026-04-01 09:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-05 09:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-14 09:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-24 09:00 - 15:00 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) A world of wonder takes flight as Montgomery Parks’ popular Butterfly Experience returns to Brookside Gardens. Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of brilliant butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among vibrant, lush tropical blooms. This intimate experience offers rare, up-close encounters while trained staff and volunteers highlight the stages of metamorphosis, the important role butterflies play in healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens.
Butterfly Experience runs through September 7th.

Guided Cherry Blossom Walk
2026-04-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Stanton Park, 6th Street NE and 226 4th St NE, Washington, DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (Tree Stories) Join educational arborist Sam Nelson for a guided walk in D.C’s Capitol Hill featuring history, science, and beautiful groves of blossoms Together, we’ll discuss tree science, history, and slow down to stroll and reflect under magical blossoms in spring (and take some photos). This walk will not include the beautiful but crowded Tidal Basin. Instead, we’ll begin in Stanton Park, walk through the Senate Parks, and then finish at the U.S. Capitol’s historic cherry groves around sunset.

Learn iNaturalist
2026-04-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St Germain Dr., Centreville, 20121, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County) Help document our community’s biodiversity by learning how to use the free app iNaturalist! Join VA Master Naturalist and Capital Nature Co-Founder Ana Ka’ahanui for tips on making iNaturalist observations in preparation for the upcoming global bioblitz, the City Nature Challenge. Weather permitting, we will explore the outdoors using the app to identify flora and fauna around the library.
Adults. No registration required. Limited tickets available at 11:30am.

Meadowood Butterfly and Dragonfly Survey
2026-04-03 08:00 - 11:30 | Meadowood Park, 12810 New Hampshire Ave, Colesville, 20904
(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Butterfly and dragonfly surveys are carried out April-October, normally on Friday mornings, at one of four sites around Occoquan Bay, all within the 15-mile diameter circle established for the annual North American Butterfly Association’s Annual Count.
The results of these surveys are made available to the participants and other interested individuals and agencies, including the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, and agencies of the U.S. Interior Department. The results of the butterfly-dragonfly surveys are summarized, along with the results of the general surveys, in an annual report.

Beauty of Bluebells Walk
2026-04-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-04 07:00 - 09:30, 2026-04-05 07:00 - 09:30 | Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA, 20121, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the magic and wonder of the Bluebell Trail in its full glory! Take a relaxing stroll on Bull Run Regional Park’s most famous trail while being enveloped by a sea of blue. Learn about spring ephemeral plants such as the Virginia Bluebell and why these fleeting flowers bloom for such a short time. Ages 8+

Bird Walk at Kingman
2026-04-04 08:00 - 10:00 | Kingman and Heritage Islands Park, 575 Oklahoma Ave NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join DC Bird Alliance for a relaxed, guided bird walk on Kingman Island. We’ll move at an easy pace, pause often to observe birds, and explore the island’s unique habitats together. This walk is open to all experience levels. Bring binoculars if you have them (we have a few to spare), curiosity if you don’t, and enjoy time outdoors noticing birds and nature in community.

Gong and Frog Sound Bath
2026-04-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Immerse yourself in the vibrations of nature, channeled through the ancient instrument of gong. Deep vibrations will resonate with the natural environment and serve as a sonic massage on the body, mind, and spirit. Then, we’ll hop into the expanse of nature to follow the calls of frogs into the park. Ages 9 +.

Community Science Night
2026-04-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Are you interested in learning about local wildlife and helping out nature. Then check out our Community Science program at Locust Grove Nature Center. Nighttime is often the best chance to encounter wildlife such as owls, foxes, bats, and frogs. Join a Naturalist for a guided wildlife-monitoring walk and help document the species that make their home here. Each session introduces participants to the iNaturalist app (please download ahead of time), which we’ll use to record photos and sounds of the plants and animals we discover. Ages 16 +.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Dyke Marsh
2026-04-05 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-12 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-19 08:00 - 10:00 | Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA, 22307, United States
(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join FODM for a bird walk every Sunday at 8 a.m. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater, tidal marsh on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, U.S. National Park Service.

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows
2026-04-06 07:00 - 09:00, 2026-04-13 07:00 - 09:00 | Huntley Meadows, 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA, 22306, United States
(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 8 a.m. Following the walk, members of the group gather at the nearby Denny’s for breakfast and to compile the morning’s bird list. All are welcome.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-04-07 08:30 - 10:00, 2026-04-14 08:30 - 10:00, 2026-04-21 08:30 - 10:00 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join National Park Service volunteer and expert birder Molly Hermann for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID.
The walk will be conducted at a leisurely pace, covering approximately one mile. We will gather in front of the visitor center, and the duration of the walk will typically range from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on our observations. We look forward to sharing this delightful experience with you!

Spring Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island (Wait List)
2026-04-09 08:30 - 11:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington DC, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Enjoy a morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.
Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island near the capital city.

Slitherin' Salamanders
2026-04-10 08:30 - 10:30 | Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA, 20121, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Slither on over to Bull Run Regional Park for an amphibian adventure! Early March is an incredibly active time of year for local amphibians as they look–and sing–for a mate. The flooded forests at Bull Run, known as vernal pools, are highly prized by these animals because they lack aquatic predators and are therefore safe nurseries for their young. Learn more about the behaviors of these incredible amphibians and get ready see some up close! Ages 8+

Wings Over Wolf Trap
2026-04-12 09:30 - 10:30 | Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (Friends of Wolf Trap National Park)

Join Larry Meade for a fun and educational nature walk around the grounds of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. April is prime time for bird migration as colorful birds such as warblers sing and show off their breeding plumage. While we are enjoying the birds, we will also be looking for other interesting creatures such as butterflies and dragonflies.With over 300 species of birds migrating over our area, we should spot quite a few species of birds.Larry works with various conservation groups in our area and will share his deep expertise in a fun and educational manner. Appropriate for all ages. Explore and learn more about the nature side of this gem of a National Park.

Vernal Pool Tour
2026-04-18 10:30 - 12:30 | Powder Milk Community Park, 3099 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD, 20783, United States
(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society for a Vernal Pool Tour at Powder Mill Community Park! Vernal pools are temporary seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for specialized species like wood frogs and spotted salamanders. If you’d like to get closer to the vernal pools to checkout what’s inhabiting them, we recommend wearing rubber boots.

Earth Day Film & Nature Walk
2026-04-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Langdon Park Recreation Center, 2901 20th St NE, Washington DC, 20018, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Come celebrate and experience Langdon Park Forest Patch, a 2.2-acre woodland that’s as rich in story as it is in biodiversity. The program will feature a presentation, a film, and a walk through the forest patch. Once overrun by invasive vines, this urban forest is now being brought back to health through the efforts of Langdon Park Forest Stewards, Casey Trees, community volunteers, and city agencies.
This program is free and open to the public. No registration needed!
Learn more about the Langdon Park Forest Stewards at caseytrees.org/langdon.

2026 City Nature Challenge
2026-04-24 00:00 - 2026-04-27 23:59
(DMV) Join community and citizen scientists all over the globe to observe wildlife: animals, plants, and fungi in backyards, neighborhoods, and parks in urban areas. Using iNaturalist to document them, you can share your observation to help scientists track the wildlife that share our urban areas. See DC metro area events here and in this calendar. Register to track you progress and DC area observations.
Find out about the global event.

Second Annual DC Climate Week Forest Bathing Walk
2026-04-24 09:00 - 11:00 | Dumbarton Oaks Park, Lover's Lane and R Street NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
(DC) (Sarah DeWitt & Radhika Bhatt)
During DC Climate Week, join Regenerative Leadership Coach and Forest Bathing Guide, Sarah DeWitt, and Climate Career Coach, Radhika Bhatt, for a Forest Bathing walk through Dumbarton Oaks Park for an opportunity to pause, reflect, and deeply connect with nature and each other.

City Nature Challenge at Meadowlark
2026-04-24 11:00 - 12:30 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
VA) (NOVA Parks) Join us at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens for the global City Nature Challenge—an exciting opportunity to explore and document the wildlife all around us! Led by Roving Naturalist Matt Felperin, we’ll start with a quick introduction and practice session before heading into Meadowlark’s natural areas to document plants, birds, insects, amphibians, and more.
The City Nature Challenge is an international effort that encourages people to discover and record biodiversity in their own communities. During this guided program, we’ll take a springtime hike through the gardens and learn how to use the free iNaturalist app to make real scientific observations. Whether you’re new to nature observation or already love spotting wildlife, this program is a fun and meaningful way to contribute to a global project. Ages 8 and up.
